Cuts to public health and local authority spending spell a potential crisis for the NHS prevention agenda which needs to be a national priority in order to reduce avoidable ill health and the resulting strain on NHS services.

Avoidable diseases cost the NHS an estimated £60billion which clearly necessitates the need for a preventative approach to health, yet how can this be achieved when vital funding may be in danger of being stripped away? The NHS is backing hard hitting action on the causes of ill health, even calling for a radical upgrade, but this cannot be achieved if public health spending is downgraded. NHS funding is currently ring-fenced therefore all the more reason exists for public health spending to be equally protected.

We are left with a worrying and confusing picture where short term savings may only serve to increase health problems, potential deepen health inequalities and contribute to NHS strain over the long term.

Local Authorities are already having to make significant savings and public health must not been seen as an easy target for cuts, it would be a false economy.